Kayak Equipment

Once you have been bitten by the Sea Kayaking bug, the basic equipment you will need includes:

Kayak

There is a large variety of craft and manufacturers and it is important to get the one that is right for you and your level of experience. ‘Family Kayaks’ are generally more stable, controllable and comfortable – a general recreational kayak.

Sea kayaks can however be purchased that are made of lightweight, composite materials, are very long and thin and therefore take less effort to paddle for long periods and distances. They are less stable and for the more advanced kayaker and the price reflects their advanced design.

Personal Floatation Device (PFD)

A buoyancy aid is a vitally important life preserving piece of equipment. When selecting a PFD you need to remember that you will be wearing it at all times so it needs to be comfortable, and allow you to paddle easily with good freedom of movement.

Look also at the quality of materials and how well it is put together, as well as how it fastens and fits. If you don’t get this right, your sea kayaking experiences will not be comfortable ones.

You should also consider adding a portable light / strobe to the buoyancy aid in case of emergency as well as a whistle.

Paddle

As you might expect, paddles come in all shapes, sizes and weights and you need to consider.

length

blade design

feathering (how the 2 blades are offset from each other)

paddle weight

material – wood, fibreglass (usually the cheapest) or carbon/graphite composite (the lightest and most expensive)

You will also need a line to secure your paddle to the kayak.

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